The catalytic subunit of DNA-protein kinase (DNA-PKcs) is not required for Ig class-switch recombination

The joining of DNA ends during Ig class-switch recombination [CSR) is thought to involve the same nonhomologous end-joining pathway as used in V(D)J recombination. However, we reported earlier that CSR can readily occur in Ig transgenic SCID mice lacking DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) activity, a critical enzymatic activity for V(D)J recombination. We were thus led to question whether the catalytic subunit of DNA-PK (DNA-PKcs) is essential for CSR. To address this issue, we asked whether class switching to different Ig isotypes could occur in a line of Ig transgenic mice lacking detectable DNA-PKcs protein. The answer was affirmative. We conclude that joining of DNA ends during CSR does not require DNA-PKcs and can occur by an alternative repair pathway to that used for V(D)J recombination.